Top gift ideas for travellers of all types

As holiday shopping kicks off along with the upcoming Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, Cheapflights.co.uk, UK website for travel deals comparison, has scoured the travel-sphere for the world’s Top 10 Perfect Travel Gifts this Christmas.

With everything from the latest gadgets to entertainment luggage for the kids, there’s sure to be a stocking stuffer or a box to put under the tree for all.

“Eliminate the stress of holiday shopping by hitting the high street or even the cyber world for a spot of shopping, list in hand,” says Nadine Hallak, Travel Expert for Cheapflights.co.uk.

“Travel related gifts are s fun to open as they carry the joy of the moment as well as the promise of future adventure. Our choices are also useful, practical, long lasting and inspiring. Most importantly, most of them won’t break the bank!” adds Hallak.

Here we explore five of the world’s ten very best travel gifts to give this holiday season along with who they would suit.

For the junior traveller – Trunki
This is the one that the cash-rich investors in Dragon’s Den let get away. Flying during the peak Christmas travel season pretty much guarantees long lines and frazzled families at the airport. A relief for parents is the Trunki, a baggage-scooter hybrid that has changed the way kids navigate airports. The four-wheeled suitcase offers tots a chance to pack their favourite Peppa Pig pyjamas and then ride around the airport and their destination. New this year is SnooziHedz, a three-in-one blanket, pillow and travel buddy – perfect for the colder cabin environment.

For the jet setter – Tumi Scale
Passengers are all too familiar with rising baggage fees as airlines continue to struggle to offset rising fuel costs. And even worse than paying to check luggage are additional fees for overweight bags. Tumi’s new Scale is a handy solution and a sophisticated gadget for your nearest and dearest jet setter this festive season. The handheld device tells travellers in one grab – before heading to the airport – exactly what a bag weighs. Disclaimer: It utterly spoils the fun of repacking at the check-in counter or investing in a second suitcase at Duty-Free.

For the aspiring bilingual – My French/Spanish Coach
UBI, makers of the popular Just Dance games for Wii devices, has created a game for Nintendo DS that combines fun with language learning for players of all ages. My French Coach – also available in Spanish – claims that dedicated linguists who practice just 20 minutes each day can become fluent in whatever language they’re learning, simply by playing the mini-games and tracking their progress. Want to get beyond the “dos cervezas, por favor” standard of Spanish? Now’s your chance.

For the photographer – Canon point-and-shoot
DSLR cameras are gaining popularity among travellers, but they come with a hefty price tag. Luckily, Canon is making user-friendly point-and-shoots that capture exquisite photographs at a fraction of the cost. The new PowerShot ELPH features a 28mm wide-angle lens, 8x optical zoom and an optical image stabiliser – all within a super slim frame. The hardest part: choosing from the ultra-hip colour options like electric blue and hot pink.

For the environmentalist – Sustainable Cork Sleeve
As personal electronics become more and more sophisticated, so should their protective covers. Taking a laptop or tablet on holiday is risky business, especially for those whose price tags are high. Enter Ryan Frank, an eco-friendly furniture designer from South Africa, to the rescue. The sustainably minded craftsman has created Sustainable Cork Sleeves to protect cameras, iPods and e-readers – you name it – in naturally harvested, biodegradable cork leather. The result: wonderful carriers for your favourite nomad’s most expensive travel gadgets.

For the full list of the world’s Top 10 Travel Gifts, visit:
news.cheapflights.co.uk/top-ten-travel-gift-ideas-for-christmas-2011/